The Central California Environmental Justice Network (CCEJN), a fiscally sponsor project of the Social and Environmental Entrepreneurs (SEE); is accepting applications from motivated individuals to fill a Community Organizer Position for Kern County.

CCEJN seeks to preserve the natural resources of the San Joaquin Valley by working towards minimizing or eliminating environmental degradation within our communities. Rural communities in California’s Central Valley suffer a disproportionate amount of negative health, social, and economic impacts due to disproportionate environmental degradation. CCEJN upholds the principles of environmental justice through direct action, movement building, advocacy, and resident engagement in all of its efforts. CCEJN is looking for candidates who share our organizational values and are interested in working in the field of Environmental & Social Justice Issues in Kern County.

Job Description

The Community Organizer position is a temporary, part-time position that is responsible for providing community education and outreach in low-income communities of color in Kern County. Specific areas of responsibility include working closely with residents in Arvin, Shafter and other Kern County communities as needed, offering bilingual education on basic environmental literacy and fracking issues; engagement of residents in relevant project work; community meeting coordination; and offering support for residents that want to engage in collection of targeted samples and pollution logs of oil and gas related emissions. The selected candidate will also help to educate residents on how to identify fracking and other extreme oil production methods violations and how to report it to the IVAN Kern Reporting Network. The Community Organizer will report directly to CCEJN Kern County Coordinator and will work closely with CCEJN’s director and other community partners.

This is a non-exempt temporary part-time position. It is expected that this person will work approximately 20 hours per week over a 10-month period, with the possibility of extending the number of hours per week and the number of months of work based on funding availability.

Major Responsibilities

Work with CCEJN staff to develop and distribute bilingual environmental literacy materials and specific materials on fracking

Conduct community outreach to educate residents about environmental hazards affecting their communities

Organize and facilitate community meetings to educate community members about environmental hazards, how to report them; and offer trainings on fracking and other extreme methods of oil extraction

Engage Kern County residents in advocacy campaigns at the county and state level that aim to create stronger regulations against fracking practices

Organize and facilitate trainings on the collection of targeted samples and pollution logs of oil and gas related emissions

Identify and recruit a cohort of community members willing to participate in the collection of targeted samples and pollution logs of oil and gas related emissions

Provide technical support and maintain constant communication with participants in the data collection cohort

Complete written progress reports documenting project tasks including but not limited to entering data into spreadsheets; keeping updated files of all project activities;

General Responsibilities

Attend and help coordinate IVAN Kern monthly task force meetings

Attend meetings on behalf of CCEJN or tend to other duties related to the organization as assigned

Collaborate with other organizations in Kern County and across the state to advance environmental justice issues affecting Kern County residents

Other duties as assigned by the Kern County Coordinator or CCEJN’s Director

Required Qualifications

Community organizing experience

Strong communication skills both oral and written

Bilingual English and Spanish. Ability to do basic translations and to provide interpretation during meetings

Ability to work well with diverse groups

Must work with limited supervision—create sound work style and be able to develop his/her own schedule in order to complete project tasks

Proficiency with Microsoft Office products

Strong commitment to environmental justice and the mission of CCEJN

Ability and willingness to travel within Kern County and other parts of California and to have a flexible schedule as needed

Current driver’s license and fully-insured personal vehicle

Preferred Qualifications

Completed courses in an accredited college or university on Environmental Science, Social or Health Sciences

Experience doing advocacy work

Starting Date: Open until filled

Compensation: $16/hourly

How to Apply:

Interested candidates must send an e-mail that includes a cover letter and resume to Nayamin.Martinez@outlook.com with “CCEJN Kern Community Organizer” as the subject line. For more information about the position please contact Nayamin Martinez at 559-351-6398.